JACKSONVILLE – Let's get to it …
Nick from Virginia Beach, FL
The draft is finally here. Who are the Jags picking tonight at 5? Please stay at 5.
The 2025 NFL Draft indeed is finally upon us and who the Jaguars will select at No. 5 overall Thursday night absolutely is a critical question for this franchise – and for much of the top half of the draft. It seems almost certain the Tennessee Titans will select Miami quarterback Cam Ward at No. 1 overall. Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter seems likely to be selected next, with Penn State edge defender Abdul Carter also likely to be selected before the Jaguars select at No. 5 overall. I think the Jaguars like players such as Hunter, Carter, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham and Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan a lot. I think they like a few other players near the top, too – but it feels like they like all those players enough for them to be possibilities at No. 5. I think they would love for a player such as Hunter – and perhaps Carter – to be available there. That's not expected to be the case. Do they like a player enough to trade up? That would be expensive. Really expensive. My thought therefore is the Jaguars may seek the best available player at No. 5 overall. That likely means selecting Jeanty. But make no mistake: If you say you know what the Jaguars will do at No. 5, you're most likely wrong. I expect Thursday night to be interesting. And exciting. Buckle up.
Kathy from Palm Coast, FL
We appear to be looking at a running back for Pick No. 5. Why? Because the talking heads think he is a generational player. I remember drafting another generational player. How has that worked out?
My Scooby sense – not my Scobee sense – tells me you don't think the Jaguars should select Jeanty No. 5 overall because they selected Louisiana State running back Leonard Fournette No. 4 overall in 2017 NFL Draft. Which eventually proved a mistake. This is not a wise way to make draft selections. The wise way to make draft decisions is to select players based on how you evaluate players. And for clarification's sake: If the Jaguars select Jeanty No. 5 overall, it will be because they think he is a generational player. It won't be because talking heads believe he's a generational player.
John from Jax
I think you need to do The NY Times Wordle today, Wednesday.
I am the king of all funk.
Zachary from East Palatka, FL
Jeanty is the biggest smokescreen. He's not going No. 1 overall. Not that anyone said he was, but if he was that good, he would go a lot lower than five. I just can't fathom how stupid of a pick it would be. Therefore, it's a smokescreen to get a trade. We want Travis Hunter or a bunch of extra draft picks.
He's not a smokescreen. He is widely considered the second- or third-best player in the draft. In a year in which two quarterbacks are projected in the Top 5, that means Jeanty should be projected to be selected No. 4 or 5 – and that's where he's projected. I think the Jaguars would like to select Hunter. I think they also wouldn't mind trading to get a "bunch of extra draft picks." Wanting something and being able to do something are two different things.
Brett from Shoalhaven Heads, Australia
Hi, KOAF. Love reading your answers. As a relative newcomer to the intricacies of the draft, can you tell me whether important players – such as franchise quarterbacks – ever have a say in which offensive players a team selects?
A franchise quarterback might sometimes have a biiiit of input into personnel decisions in the sense that a general manager might ask his thoughts and a general manager wouldn't usually completely disregard those thoughts. But the reality is this: General managers general manage, players play and quarterbacks quarterback. Remember, too: NFL players might watch college football and therefore have a few thoughts on a player or two. But their knowledge of the entire draft and all players would be close to nil compared to the general manager.
Brett from Shoalhaven Heads, Australia
I know mocks are like fantasy games but how would you feel if we ended up with these guys after our first five picks: Warren, Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, Arizona offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea and Ohio State safety Lathan Ranson.
Go for it.
Jeremy from Gilbert, AZ
So just how committed are the Jags to the Best Available Player philosophy? For example, the Jags passed on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in 2004 because they were all set at quarterback from the previous draft. How'd that work out? So, my question is, if the Jags believe a quarterback at No. 5 is someone who will be better than Lawrence then don't you take him?
If the Jaguars believed a quarterback at No. 5 overall would be better than quarterback Trevor Lawrence, I expect they would select him.
Richard from St. Augustine, FL
All knowing KOAFumkiness all I have to say about running back at fifth pick is Bucky Irving Pick No. 125 in fourth round of 2024 NFL draft by Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Jaguars have much greater need. Just saying. From retired NFL Coach and general manager down here in St Johns County. DTWD. Go Jags
The Jaguars wouldn't select Jeanty at No. 5 overall if they expect him to be a good running back or even a very good running back. Whatever selection they make at No. 5 overall, it will be because they expect that player to be great.
Bill from Jacksonville
John, we know positional value always plays a role, especially drafting early. What about salary, though? If Jeanty is drafted by the Jaguars, he already would be a Top 5-paid running back. If they took Mason Graham, though, he would be the 33rd-highest paid interior defensive lineman. Do you think teams take that into account? Should they?
A little, but very little.
Daniel from Johnston, IA
Even if Jeanty is the next Barry Sanders ... how many times did the Detroit Lions go the playoffs with Sanders? I don't think running back is deserving of a Top 5 draft pick anymore (if it ever was). But ... yeah … I know I don't know much about football, so ... Go Jags!
If Barry Sanders were entering the NFL now and teams knew he was going to be as good as Barry Sanders, he should be – and would be – selected in the Top 5.
Gator from Gainesville
Mason Graham ain't from the SEC. Boise ain't in the SEC. You schoont be picking no top 10 player who ain't from the SEC. What is ya….. stoopid?
Good eye.
KS2 from East Arlington
Travis Hunter is talked about as a can't-miss prospect. When I look for tape of him showcasing his play against top-notch talent, I don't see it. I may be showing my lack of savvy by asking this, but how can everyone be so sure about him when he does not have tape with dominant performances against teams like Texas, Michigan, Ohio State?
There's no such thing as a "can't-miss" prospect. This is because the comparative level of even the best college football programs and conferences – yes, including the Southeastern Conference and Big 10 – is so below the NFL that it's impossible to predict how even the best prospects will fare.
Mark from High Springs
Great Wordle today.
Word…le
Thomas from Charlottesville
Could the early (pre-draft) voluntary program be viewed as a job interview for players at the bottom of the roster? If so, does that affect the later rounds of the draft? And would how the team drafts in the late rounds give us an indication of how the new general manager and coach feel about certain positions?
The voluntary offseason program, minicamps, training camps and preseason are job interviews for most Jaguars players – with a few exceptions at the very top of the roster. I expect the Jaguars to approach this entire draft with the idea of selecting players who can play/start contribute moving forward. I do expect a focus throughout the draft on positions such as wide receiver, safety, corner, edge defender and offensive line because it feels as though the decision-makers expect rookies to fill roles, there. At the same time, I don't know that there are that many positions outside quarterback on this roster that are so strong that rookies couldn't contribute somewhere in 2025.
Brother Dave from Orlando, FL
Zone, personally I could care less who we end up picking with our first pick. I will be watching with a cold beer (non IPA for my taste) and enjoy the entertainment. I just hope the pick we make helps the team increase the numbers in the win column!
Text me. I can get an Uber.
